I have been on an exploration of rum, but have gone through what I have on hand, and bought a couple more, so I need to branch out. I remembered that in the back of my cupboard, hidden away waiting for an Irish tasting lineup, or St. Patrick’s, or something, was a bottle of Tullamore D. E. W. XO Rum Cask Finished. What, I wonder, is the effect of rum casks on Irish Whiskey? Out of the glass jump crisp apples, toffee, pineapple, banana, and mild hints of brown sugar. Keeping it in mind to look for rum influences, I need to dig past the apples, and there I find the same coconut sunscreen that I’ve found in some rum recently. First sip, instantly tastes like Irish whiskey, shortbread cookies, apples, toffee. There’s more here. I find burnt caramel, brown sugar, and white pepper. There’s something like magic markers, and a pleasant warming. The flavor has more notes that I recognize from rum, molasses, and overly ripe fruit. The biggest thing is probably the burnt caramel though. The finish is medium short, the apples and toffee linger, but the brown sugar, and some allspice are present too. As a whiskey this gets a 78/100. As an experience and exploration of rum influence: 85/100